Exercises - Lesson 17

Reversed Cards

(See Introduction to Exercises.)

Exercise 17.1 - The Energy of a Card

Shuffle the cards so there is a mixture of upright and reversed cards. Hold the deck face down in one hand. Turn over the first card, and lay it in front of you. Answer these questions:

  1. What is the energy of this card for me at this moment?
    Listen for a word or phrase to pop into your mind. Don't try to remember an official meaning; simply wait for an idea to enter awareness. Let the energy of the card present itself to you on its own.

  2. What is the level of this energy as shown by the card's orientation?
    An upright card represents high energy; a reversed card represents low energy.

  3. How am I experiencing this energy at this level?
    Again, let an idea come to mind on its own.

Here are two examples:

Nine of Wands - upright
1. perseverance
2. high level
3. I'm determined to get good grades at school.

Queen of Swords - reversed:
1. sitting in judgment (based on the image)
2. low level
3. I'm trying to judge my sister less.

Continue this exercise by turning over new cards one by one. Stop if you feel any strain or restlessness. You want to feel relaxed and pleasantly engaged. There are no right answers, so feel free to accept whatever comes.

Exercise 17.2 - Interpreting Reversed Cards

For each scenario below, find the given card and place it in front of you reversed. Imagine that you have drawn this card in a reading. Write a brief interpretation. Show how the usual energy of the card is affected by the reversal, perhaps in one of these ways: You can check my suggestions, if you wish.

Here are two examples. The card's meaning is in bold, and the reversal effect is in italics:

Situation: I've hurt my back in a car accident. I'm in a lot of pain.
Card: Queen of Wands - reversed
Interpretation: I've lost much of my robust good health because of this accident.

Situation: I'm tired of working on this assignment even if it is due tomorrow.
Card: Nine of Pentacles- reversed
Interpretation: I'm denying the need to show discipline.

  1. I wonder why my love life has been stalled for so long.
    Three of Wands - reversed

  2. I finally got my promotion, but my family doesn't want to move.
    Chariot - reversed

  3. My friend wants me to join her protest against the new landfill.
    Ace of Swords - reversed

  4. I've been making one sale after another! I've got the golden touch right now.
    Tower - reversed

  5. My cousin wants me to invest in his new company, but I'm hesitating.
    Knight of Swords - reversed

  6. I don't want to see my boyfriend any more. I'm not sure why.
    Four of Cups - reversed

  7. My daughter is divorcing and wants to live with me for a while.
    Six of Pentacles - reversed

  8. I love my new baby, but I'm so worn out from lack of sleep.
    Page of Cups - reversed

  9. I can't stand school. I want to quit when the semester's over.
    Temperance - reversed

  10. My meditations are getting more powerful. It scares me a little.
    Death - reversed

Exercise 17.3 - Upside-Down Meanings

For each card in the list below write a brief interpretation that reverses the regular meaning in some way. Use ideas based on twisting, flipping, changing, rejecting, denying and the like. The interpretation doesn't have to relate to your life; any possibility will do. Look at the reversed card while you work for inspiration. You can check my suggestions, if you wish. Here are some examples with the upside-down meanings in italics:

[picture of World Reversed] World - reversed:
My whole world has been turned upside-down.
She's rejecting the outside world. She wants to stay isolated in her own circle.

[picture of King of Cups Reversed] King of Cups - reversed:
I don't trust her very much. Something's not on the up-and-up.
I'm tired of being diplomatic! I want to say what I think.

  1. Justice - reversed
  2. Page of Swords - reversed
  3. Hanged Man - reversed
  4. Four of Wands - reversed
  5. Ace of Pentacles - reversed
  6. Knight of Cups - reversed
  7. Six of Swords - reversed
  8. Hierophant - reversed
  9. Three of Pentacles - reversed

Lesson 17

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